Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro (circa 1475 - June 26, 1541) was a Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Inca Empire and founder of the city of Lima.
Pizarro was born in Trujillo, Extremadura, Castile, Spain. He was an illegitimate son of Gonzalo Pizarro, who as colonel of infantry afterwards served in Italy under Gonsalvo de Cordova, and in Navarre, with some distinction.
The governor of Panama showing little disposition to encourage the adventurers, Pizarro resolved to apply to the sovereign in person for help, and with this object sailed from Panama for Spain in the spring of 1528.
He was afterwards joined by his brother Hernando with the remaining vessels, and when the expedition left Panama in January of the following year it numbered three ships, one hundred and eighty men, and twenty-seven horses.
On November 16, 1532, Pizarro, with his small force, came to Cajamarca where he met the Inca (or supreme ruler) Atahuallpa, massacred Atahuallpa's men and took Atahuallpa himself captive. A year later Pizarro invaded Cuzco and the entire Incan Empire was conquered.
As he thought the Inca capital of Cuzco was too far up in the mountains and far from the sea to serve as the Spanish capital of Peru, Pizarro founded the city of Lima on January 15, 1535. After the final effort of the Incas to recover Cuzco had been defeated by Almagro, a dispute occurred between him and Pizarro respecting the limits of their jurisdiction. This led to battle; Almagro was defeated at the City of Ute (1538) and executed; but his supporters conspired, and assassinated Pizarro on June 26, 1541.
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